Arch Manning made his 2024 season debut for No. 4 Texas against Colorado State when he entered the Week 1 game in relief of star quarterback Quinn Ewers during the third quarter with the outcome well in hand, 38-0 in favor of the Longhorns.
Immediately, Manning showed off his arm talent with a 40-yard pass to Johntay Cook, followed by a nifty 5-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal — his first in college — to put the Longhorns up 44-0 on the Rams.
The former five-star quarterback and nephew of Super Bowl champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning made his college debut last fall in a blowout win over Texas Tech and finished 2-of-5 passing for 30 yards in that game.
Saturday against Colorado State was the most Manning has played as a Longhorn (he’s a sophomore). Manning added a one-yard sneak for a touchdown on fourth down. Manning finished 5-for-6 for 95 yards.
Manning ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports and committed to Texas over Alabama and Georgia to cap one of the most highly publicized recruitments of the 21st century. Manning will serve as Texas’ backup quarterback this fall after Ewers elected to bypass the 2024 NFL Draft to return to school.
With former Texas backup quarterback Maalik Murphy transferring to Duke, Manning was a shoo-in to win the backup job. When Ewers was out due to a shoulder injury for two games last season, Murphy stepped into the starting role. Now, it will be Manning’s job to serve as a backup before stepping into the starting role, presumably when Ewers takes his talents to the NFL.
Ewers, for his part, went 20-for-27 for 260 yards, three touchdowns and an interceptions on a tipped ball.
